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ICELAND 2003 |
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Monastic Activities at Skriðuklaustur
Steinunn Kristjánsdóttir
The archaeological project Monastic Activities at Skriðuklaustur was begun in January 2002. Its aim is to investigate, through an archaeological excavation, the monastery that was operated on the farmstead Skriða in Fljótsdalur Valley, East Iceland, during the period from 1493 to the Reformation in 1550.
Skriðuklaustur - the Monastery at Skriða
The monastery at Skriða, named Skriðuklaustur, was the youngest of
the seven monasteries and two nunneries in operation in Iceland during the
Medieval period, but within a short time, it became one of the richest. It
is thought that this increase in material wealth was due to Skriðuklaustur's
having been the only monastery in East Iceland. Skriðuklaustur also differed
from the other monasteries and nunneries in Iceland because a parochial school
was operated there. Five of the Icelandic Medieval monasteries/nunneries -
including the monastery at Skriða - were Augustinian, and five were Benedictine.
Test Pit Excavation at Skriða
The farm site at Skriða has been inhabited ever since the period of the
settlement of Iceland in the late 9th and 10th centuries. The location of
the monastery was unknown until the summer of 2000, and preliminary examination
of the farm site at Skriða was conducted through test pits and geometrical
surveys. In addition, written documents about the farm site were examined
and compared to the results from the fieldwork. This was done primarily in
order to locate the ruins of the monastery and to measure the actual size
of the research site.
In this context, it is important to mention that medieval buildings in Iceland
were built primarily of turf and stones. Such buildings usually disappear
under the earth's surface if they are left unused; therefore, no traces of
the monastery ruins could be seen on the surface.
The results from the preliminary excavation performed in 2000 were clear.
The monastery ruins are located in one of the cultivated fields of the farm
site at Skriða, approximately 200 metres away from the residential house
that is currently in use. The ruins of the medieval monastery seem to have
been preserved relatively well through the centuries. It appears that no houses
were built on the site after the end of the monastic period; the ruins were
obviously left untouched and sunk gradually into the ground after the abandonment.
Two cooking pits were found in the ruins of the monastery of Skriða during
the excavation in 2002. The cooking pits were probably used for making ink
(Steinunn Kristjánsdóttir, 2002).
During the preliminary excavation at Skriða, several well-preserved artefacts
were unearthed, which indicates that the conditions for preservation are unusually
good in this particular area of Iceland. These results make this site more
valuable for archaeological research than any other monastic site in Iceland.
In addition, the short period during which the monastery was operated should
make the interpretation of the ruins rather simple. Icelandic houses built
of turf and stone were frequently rebuilt, and this usually makes them more
complicated to interpret, but the narrow time frame of Skriðuklaustur's
period of activity minimises this complication. Nonetheless, despite its short
period of operation, there is no reason to assume that the monastic buildings
at Skriða should be smaller than those at other monasteries in Medieval
Iceland because the Reformation was not foreseen when the monastery was founded.
Research Aims
Icelandic monasteries and nunneries are frequently mentioned in internal written
sources, but none of the records give any details about the layout of the
buildings. Therefore, both their architectural layout and the activities that
took place inside them are the subject of numerous questions. Nonetheless,
it is commonly thought that Icelandic monasteries and nunneries were operated
in Icelandic farmhouses themselves rather than in separate buildings - i.e.,
cloisters - as was the case in Iceland's neighbouring countries. It is unlikely,
however, that the church authorities designed these centres on an ad hoc basis,
either in Iceland or elsewhere. They would have been required to observe international
rules in this respect as well as in other areas of religious observation.
Therefore, the research aims of the project centre mainly on the architectural
layout of the monastery at Skriða. The question is whether the monastery
was built in a manner similar to other European cloisters, separating the
sacred monastic activities from the secular activities at the farm site. If
this separation is visible in the archaeological remains of the monastery
at Skriða, it will be possible to ask further questions about the monastic
activities there and compare them to other similar research projects in Europe.
If not, the site will be investigated as such: i.e., as a monastery operated
according to a unique Icelandic tradition.
Artefacts indicating manuscript making and writing at the monastery at Skriða were found during the excavation there in 2002. The artefacts are sulphate, green colouring stone, sealing wax, and three small knives (Steinunn Kristjánsdóttir, 2002).
As is stated above, the database concerning monastery investigations in Iceland is rather sparse at present, but the investigation at Skriðuklaustur is expected to change that. The investigation at Skriða will undoubtedly expand our knowledge regarding the history of East Iceland, as well as increasing our knowledge about monasteries in Icelandic Medieval society in general. The results should be useful in many disciplines, both abroad and here in Iceland, because of the multidisciplinary basis of the excavation.
Monastic Activities at Skriða: The Archaeological Project
In accordance with the information gleaned from the preliminary research at
the site, the main investigation is expected to take at least five years (2002-2007).
Each summer, two months will be used for the fieldwork at Skriðuklaustur,
while the winter will be dedicated to interpretation, as well as laboratory
work and the conservation and registration of findings. According to the investigation
plan, the staff will consist of 12 fieldworkers educated in archaeology, conservation,
palaeobotany, geology, ethnology, history, biology, and osteology. Two of
these specialists will work year-round on interpretation and laboratory testing.
The first phase of the fieldwork was completed in August 2002. The interpretation
work on the data gathered during the summer excavation has, so far, given
promising results concerning the monastic remains at Skriða. No signs
of daily secular activities can be observed at the research site. Most of
the excavated artefacts and building constructions there indicate activities
that are classified as monastic, such as manuscript making and writing.
The Skriðuklaustur Research Board
The investigation at the monastery at Skriða is a collaborative project
of the National Museum of Iceland in Reykjavík and two institutions
whose sphere of activity involves East Iceland heritage and cultural research.
Cooperation of this kind is crucial to the creation and development of cultural
heritage management and employment opportunities in this particular area of
Iceland. The project manager is archaeologist Steinunn Kristjánsdóttir.
Steinunn Kristjánsdóttir, archaeologist
Project Manager
Reykjavík Academy
Hringbraut 121
107 Reykjavik
Iceland
http://www.akademia.is
The financial resources will come from the Icelandic Government and the institutions directly involved. The investigations are conducted by a special board whose members are listed below:
Skúli Björn Gunnarsson, director
Institute of Gunnar Gunnarsson
Skriðuklaustur
IS-701 Egilsstaðir
Iceland
http://www.skriduklaustur/.is
Rannveig Þórhallsdóttir, director
East Iceland Heritage Museum
Laufskógar 1
IS-700 Egilsstaðir
Iceland
http://www.minjasafn.is
Hrefna Róbertsdóttir, historian
National Museum of Iceland
Lyngás 7
IS-210 Garðabær
Iceland
http://www.natmus.is
Erna Indriðadóttir, journalist
RUV - The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service
Efstaleiti 1
IS-150 Reykjavík
Iceland
http://www.ruv.is
Print out the application form
Grampus Heritage and Training Ltd, Ashgill, Threapland, Wigton, Cumbria, CA7 2EL
Tel: 016973 21516 Fax: 01697323040